D’Tigers assistant captain Michael Eric’s Top 50 elite basketball camp is scheduled to hold in Lagos on July 24, under the auspices of the Erico Sports Legacy Foundation, a non-profit he set up in honour of his late father, former Super Eagles goalkeeper and assistant coach, Joe Erico, Saturday PUNCH reports.
Eric, who was born and raised in Mushin, Lagos, disclosed his plans for the latest edition at a press conference at the Airport Golden Tulip Hotel in Ikeja. He said the initiative was born out of a desire to create opportunities for young Nigerians who share his passion for the sport but lack access to similar platforms.
“The journey became doing it not just for me, but doing it for those who wanted to do this but could not. So hearing many stories stayed with me to think of doing something for Nigerian youths, not just with basketball but mentorship and impacting the next generation,” Eric said.
Eric did not grow up playing basketball, having spent much of his early years focused on academics at the insistence of his father, a former goalkeeper who represented Nigeria at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations and later served as an assistant coach with the Super Eagles, helping the team qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
It was only after a growth spurt as a teenager, and a trip to the United States to visit his elder brother, Stephen, that Eric was persuaded to pursue the sport, eventually earning a scholarship to Temple University in Philadelphia before getting signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013.
The foundation’s programme director, Gbenga Jetawo, said the initiative has run continuously for five years, funded solely by Eric, training boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 18 in the basics of the game while mentoring them on discipline and life skills beyond basketball.
“We train them in basics of basketball, encourage and mentor them, and advise them. We don’t stop in basketball, and if we see the kids have interest in other things, we encourage them to chase it as well,” Jetawo said, adding that the foundation has trained over 1,000 children to date, with some progressing to scholarships abroad.
Jetawo explained that the upcoming Top 50 camp would bring together 50 young players and their coaches from various academies across the country, with organisers seeking to identify standout talents and expose them to international standards. Participants will go through drills and basic training sessions, with the foundation providing about 200 pairs of shoes, jerseys and other gear, while the best two or three athletes identified will be considered for sponsorship or trials with clubs in Europe.
Head coach, Chris Nomigo, who will lead the technical team at the camp, said the one-day programme was designed as a crash course focused on bringing out the best in the participants while keeping the experience enjoyable.
“It is going to be fun most especially. Whatever you do without having fun will not be worthwhile. It is a one-day thing, so it will be a crash course, but we do our best to keep in contact with the kids so keeping it continuous helps that they all get a chance and impact,” Nomigo said.
Eric, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Temple University, obtained in 2012, said education remained central to the foundation’s mission.
“Education is very important. You can learn many things in school, but education goes beyond that. Basketball is a tool to improve your life but when you are also educated, you can walk into different rooms with confidence, communicate effectively, and create opportunities for yourself beyond sports,” Eric said.
The foundation said its long-term goal was to establish a full-fledged academy in Nigeria with international affiliations, secure sponsorship partnerships, and eventually help produce players capable of reaching the NBA, while continuing to track and support the progress of children who pass through its programmes.
